They're outta there
YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning County Board of Elections disqualified eight Youngstown council independent candidates today based on a recent Ohio secretary of state advisory opinion.
The advisory opinion states a candidate is no longer independent if after they file for office they then vote in a party primary election. The opinion also states candidates aren't independent if they serve on a political party's central or executive committees.
Of the eight disqualfied today, seven voted in the Democratic primary of May 8, the day after the deadline to file as an independent candidate. One of those candidates, Moses H. Mahdee, is also a county Democratic central committee member. Tyrone Peakes, the other council candidate removed from the ballot today, is a member of the county Republican central committee.
There is also a question as to whether these disqualified candidates can file as write-ins. The secretary of state's office has advised the county board of elections to not accept write-in forms from the disqualified candidates until their eligibility is determined. The county elections board expects to have an answer on that question by its next meeting, June 25.
For the complete story, read Friday's Vindicator or www.vindy.com